Machine for holding animals.



S. LITTLE.

MACHINE FOR HOLDING ANIMALS.

5. ML mx iufm .i wm AB du nbu m a P M s. R. M D E L H N 0 n A c u DI P A /N VEN T OR m S E m m THE MORRIS PETERS C0.. PHIQIUJJTIM)u WASHINGYUN. D4 C S. LITTLE.

MACHlNE FOR H'OLDING ANIMALS.

MPL10/111011 msn 1111111.13.1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

THE NORRIS PETERS C0.. PHOTU-LITHD., WASHINGTON. D4 C.

S. LITTLE.

MAcHlNE FOR HOLDING ANIMALSr APPLICATION FILED MAR. I3. I9I4.

Patented A111120, 1915 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

1HE NORRIS PETERS CO" PHOTO-LITHO., WASHINGwN. 1.',A C4

jmay be readily caught, `and convenient position to be operated upon,

SANTIEORD LITTLE, OF FAIR/MOUNT, INDINA.

MACHINE FOR HOLDING ANIMALS.

Speccaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 20, i915.

Application led March 13, '1914. Serial No. 824,433.

T0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, SANTFORD LITTLE, of Fairmount, in the ycounty of Grant and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Holding Animals; vand I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it fappertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in machines for holding animals while under treatment, and more particularly to an improved hog holding machine, the object of the invention being to so construct a machine of the class mentioned, that the animal and held in proper lwithout scaring, worrying or otherwise injuring such animal, and with perfect safety to the operator and his assistants.

A further object is to provide a machine which may be readily operated to turn the animal to a position most convenient to the operator, for performingV a particular operation upon such animal, and so that the animal mayv be readily placed upon his feet after the operation has been performed, and permitted to leave the machine.

With these and otherobjects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts as hereinafter set forth and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings; Figure 1.

is a plan view of a machine embodying my improvements; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, partly broken away; Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the holding cage, removed,

Fig. 4 is an end view of said cage, and Fig. 5 is a side elevation showing positions of the parts when the holding cage is inverted.

The frame of the machine comprises side timbers 1, 2, with which axles 3-4 are connected through the medium of springs 5`6, and said axles are made with suitable spindles mounted in the hubs of carrying wheels 7*-8. .Uprights 9, 10 are secured'to each pair of side timbers 1, 2 and the forward pair 9 of these uprights are connected by a cross bar 11, suitable braces 12 being connected with the rear uprights and side timbers of the wheeled frame. Rails 13, 14, 15 and 16 are secured to the uprights 9-10 at each side of the wheeled frame, said rails being made to project rearwardly beyond the uprights 10 and connected by upright bars 17. This structure forms a pen 18 to receive the hog, and is provided with a floor` 19. Near its rear end, the pen 18 is provided with a door 20, hinged at one vertical edge to two or more of the rails at one side of the pen, and provided at its free edge with a keeper 21 to receive a latch 22. This latch is pivoted to one of the uprights 10 and its free end is connected, by means of a rod 23, with one arm of a bell-crank lever 24,*the latter being pivotally mounted on the upper rail 13 at one side of the pen. A rod 25 is attached to the upper arm of the bellcrank 24 and after passing through suitable guides 26 on said upper rail 13, projects bel yond the forward end of the pen, where it is provided with a suitable hand-hold 27. It will be observed that the uprights l0 and the door 2O are slightly inclined rearwardly, so that when the latchis raised by 4manipulation of the rod 25 from the front end of the pen, the door will swing open by gravity. For the purpose of permitting the operator to close the door from the front end of the pen, a rod 28 is attached at one end to the door and extends beyond the front end of the pen, where it is provided with a handhold 29. When the door is closed by manipulation of the rod 28, the latch 22 will ride over the keeper 21 and a spring 30 will cause engagement of the latch with the keeper he connection of the rod 23 with the bellthe bell-crank, to allow the latch to ride over and engage the keeper.

At the front end of the Apen, double doors 31 are provided, and a cross bar 32 is employed to retain these doors normally closed.

en the cross bar 32 has been removed, the hog can pass forwardly out of the pen, said doors swinging open and forming side guards to direct the hog to a holding and turning cage 33 in the forward portion of the wheeled frame.

In constructing the cage 33, I provideA a central rectangular frame 34, provided centrally with trunnions 35, for which mountings 36a are` provided on the side timbers 1 of the wheeled frame. The top bars 36 and 37' (two of eachv being shown in the draw# ing) of the holding cage, are secured under' the top members of the central, rectangular frame 34 and project at both ends beyond said frame. The top bars 36 extend rear- Y are also slightly curved downwardly.

At respective sides of the vertical center line of the rectangular frame 34, pluralities of horizontal clamp bars 41-41 are located, said clamp bars projecting in both directions beyond said frame and curved inwardly somewhat at their forward ends. Near their forward ends, the bars 41 of each set are connected by vertical braces 42, and rearwardly of the forward ends of said bars, upright bars 43 are secured thereto and the upper ends of said bars 43, (which project Vabove the upper clamp bar of each set) is curved inwardlyV-said bars 43 being adapted to'engage the'hog just back of the jowls and to insure the stability of said bais`43, braces 44 may be employed. Gther vertical bars 45 are secured to the horizontal clamp bars 41, to engage the hog behind the shoul ders. rlhe horizontal clamp bars andv the verticalV clamp barssecured thereto are sustained by links 46, the upper ends of which are pivotally attached to side bars of the central frame 34 and the lower ends of said links are loosely connected with the hori-` In order to brace the Zontal clamp bars 41.

U-shaped frame 47 clamp bars, an inverted may be secured to each set of clamp bars 41,-the cross member of said frame being secured tothe upperbar 41 andthe leg portions of said frame .being secured to the lowerbars 41.

Two curved rails 48 are transversely disposed under the two sets of clamp barsand the end portions of these rails are connected, by means of chains 49, with hooked arms 50, the upper ends of which are made with hubs mounted on a shaft 51. rl`oothed segments 52, are secured upon the frame 3,3 and provided with bearings for theaccommodation of the shaft51. Levers 53 are rigidly secured to the hubs of the hooked arms 50 and provided with suitable detents to en-V gage the toothed segmentsV 52. It is apparent that when the levers 53 are moved in one direction, the clamp bars willbe raised and caused to move toward each other to grasp the' hog. The ends of the shaft 51 may'be made angular for the reception of a hand lever forjturning the shaft, and said shaft may be provided with fixed arms 54 to engage the levers53 when the shaft is turned and thus the clamp devices may be operated by turning `the shaft with the use .of a lever ateitherend ofj thelatter.

chute 68 is provided Located centrally betweenVY the base portions of the two sets of clamp bars, and secured upon the curved rails 48, is a longitudinal bar 55 provided at its forward end with a cross head 56, and when vthe rails 48 are raised to operate the clamp bars, the longitudinal bar 55 will be raised also for a purpose hereinafter explained.

Under the clamping vand turning cage above described, floor sections 57 and 58 are located and provided with guards 5.9-60 and guards 61 are secured to the forward portions of the guards 60 and project upwardly therefrom. The floor sections 57-58 are hinged together and theV section 57 is hinged to the forward portion of the pen 18,

while the forward portion of the floor section 58 is movable over a ward axle. A spring the floor section and with yielding latch hook 67v carried by thecross bar 39 at the forward ends of the bars 36.V Y

At the forward endnof the wheeled frame, Va to facilitate the ready exit of the hog from the machine.

Between the pen 18 and the clamping cage 33, a latch device 69 is pivotally .supported by the timbers frame, said latch device being formedwith shouldered portions 70 to engage theA rear cross-bar or handle 38 of the cage 33,-said latch device being also'provide'd with a dependingA arm-71. A spring 72 attached at one end to the framework and at the other ies 14` `of the wheeledV end to thearm 7l, serves to causethe latch Y device to properly engagle'thecrossbar, 38 of the cage to,l hold the; latter in normal horizontalk position. When the clamping cage is turned to theL position shown-linrlfig.

5,;it will be held in, such position by the operation of a springi actuatedflatch 72a located neartheforward end of themachine. The lowerclamp bars41 of thecage may be providedwithslidable clamps;73 to engage the; hind legs :of theE hog.

1When thehog'shallrhave entered the pen 18 as previously explained,` hewillbecaused Vto. `move'forwardly through thedouble doors 31 j and enter the clamping v cage 33 .and .stand upon the floor` sections57-58r After-his. hind legs shall have -beensecured by means of the clamps 73, the operator wiflloperate the levers 53 (on the shaft 51,) toxactuate the clamping bars to `grasp the hogas previously explainedi vWhen-the clamping barsare thus operated, the central longitudinal bar will be elevated and caused to raise the hog ott the floor 57-58- The hog is now firmly held in the clamping cage and may be treated without danger to the operator or loss of medicine during such treatment. The operatormay now release the cage from the latch devices 69-70 and turn said cage to the position shown in Fig. 5,-in which position it will be held by the latch 72. The hog is now held in suitableposition to be operated upon, without danger of undue injury to him or to the operator.

lWhen the cage is turned or partially rotated as above described, the forward gate 66 will be released fromV the hook latch 67 and will fall upon the floor section 58. During such turning of the cage, motion will be imparted to the floor sections by the rods 611, and said ioor sections caused to drop to the positions shown in Fig. 5,-in

CII

which position it will be held by the latch 72. ,The hog is now held in suitable position to be operated upon, without danger of undue injury to him or to the operator.

When the cage is turned or partially rotated as above described, the forward gate 66 will be released from the hook latch 67 and will fall upon the floor section 58. During such turning of the cage, motion will be imparted to the floor sections by the rods 64, and said floor sections caused to drop to the positions shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, in which position, they will form a trough and facilitate proper drainage for the machine.

After the operation on the hog shall have been completed, the operator will turn the cage to its normal horizontal position. This will cause the floor sections to assume their normal position (being assisted in returning to such position by the action of the spring 63) and, after the hog has been released from the clamping devices, he will be standing upon the-floor sections 57-58 and will be free to leave the forward end of the machine.

A drivers seat 74- is provided at the forward end ofthe machine, and supported by uprights 75 pivotally attached thereto and pivoted at their lower ends to the framework. The seat is held in its normal position by means of arms 76 which engage the forward uprights 75. In this manner 'a folding seat is provided which may also be used as an operators equipment table. Clips 77 are secured to the front axle and provide means for the attachment of suitable draft devices.

Numerous slight changes might be made in the details of construction of my invention without departing from the spirit thereof or limiting its scope, and hence I do not wish to restrict myself to the precise details herein set forth.

Having fully described my invention what claim as new and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is

l. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a pivotally mounted frame, of two sets of connected bars passing through said frame, inclined links independently suspending the respective sets of connected bars from the sides of said frame, a transverse rail disposed under said sets of bars, and means for raising said transverse rail to actuate said sets of an animal between them.

2. ln a machine of the character described, the combination with a frame, of a floor, a cage mounted in said frame, said cage comprising two sets of clamping bars, an animal raising bar, and means for operating said raising bar to raise an animal oil" the floor and for operating said sets of clamping bars to clamp the body of the animal between them.

3. ln a machine of the character described, the combination with a centrally pivoted frame, of two sets of bars movable in said frame, each set of bars comprising a plurality of horizontal bars and a plurality of vertical bars connecting the horizontal bars, said vertical bars being curved inwardly at their upper ends and the vertical bars of one set separated from the vertical bars of the other set at the upper ends of the same, sets of links suspending the sets of bars from the pivoted frame, a transverse rail under the sets of bars and adapted to movably engage the lower horizontal bar of each set, and means for raising said transverse rail.

4. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a frame, of a cage mounted therein, said cage comprising oppositely disposed clamping bars, means movably supporting said clamping bars, curved rails transversely disposed under said bars, operating levers and flexible connections between said levers and curved rails for operating the latter to clamp an animal between said oppositely disposed clamping bars.

5. ln a machine of the character described, the combination with a frame, and a floor therein, of a cage revolubly mounted in said frame, said cage comprising clamping means for the body of a hog, a central longitudinal bar for raising an animal off the floor, curved rails transversely under the clamping means and longitudinal raising bar, and means for raising said rails to raise the longitudinal bar and operate the clamping means.

6. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a frame, and a floor comprising hinged sections, of a revoluble holding cage mounted in said frame, connections between said cage and the floor sections for dropping the latter when the cage is turned in one direction, and for raising bars and clamp said floor sections when the cage is returned to horizontal position.

7. In a machine of the character'ldescribed, `the combination with a frame', and a floor therein comprising drop floor sections, of a revoluble holding cage mounted in said frame, pitman connections between said cage and floor sections for operating the latter, and a spring connected with said floor sections and the frame for assisting the return of said loor sections to normal position.

8. In a machine of the character described, Vthe combination with a frame, of a holding cage comprising two sets of oppositely disposed clamping bars, frames rigidly connecting the bars of each set, a plurality of inclined. links suspending each set of bars from said frame, and' rails under the two sets of clamping bars, and means for raising said rails to raise the sets of bars to clamp the body ofan animal between them.

9. In a machine'of the character described, the combination with a main frame, of a holding cage comprising a central rectangular frame, top bars secured to said central frame and kprojecting in opposite directions f therefrom and two sets'oi:l oppositely dissaid sets of clamping bars,

posed lclamping bars pro]ecting beyond said central frame, inclined links attached at their upper Yends lto the central frame and pivotally connectedV at their lower endsy to curved rails Copies of this patent may be obtainedtfor ive cents eachrby addressing the transversely under saidl sets of. bars, and means -for raising'said rails to raise the sets offclamping. bars and clamp the body oan animal between them. y

10. In a machine Vof the characterV described', the' combination with a frame, of a revoluble holding cage mounted therein, a gatein advance of lsaid cage, and a latch device mounted on the cagefor normally holding the gate in position, said latch being movable with'thecage away from the gate to release' the latterand permit it to drop when the cage is turned.

11. In a machine l of the character described, thefcombination with a main frame,

of a pen located Von said frame, an entranceV gate for said pen, means or'releasing said gate, a holding cagemounted on said main frame to pen, gates andadapted when open to form an alleyway between the pen and thecage, and a dropy gate mounted on the main frame 1n advance of the cage Y and normally held closed by the latter.

vIn testimony whereof, Ihave signed thisV specification in the presenceV of two subscribing witnesses. s

. SAN'IFORD'LITTLE.

Witnesses: Y

EDWINM. Yonn, A. H. U'NTHANK.

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington,.D. G.

turn and located in advance of saidV Y at the forward end of said pen 

